Primer loader assembly

ABSTRACT

A primer loader assembly ( 10 ) comprises a loading and feeding assembly ( 26 ) for receiving an elongate magazine ( 28 ) containing primers ( 24 ); an advancement member ( 30 ) for advancing the magazine ( 28 ) along its longitudinal axis, through the primer loader assembly ( 10 ) to bring a primer ( 24 ) in register with the said primer chamber ( 22 ); and a push rod ( 32 ) for loading the primer ( 24 ) into the primer chamber ( 22 ) by moving the primer ( 24 ) from the magazine ( 28 ) into the chamber ( 22 ). The magazine ( 28 ) defines a plurality of individual separate tubular openings ( 28.1 ) for containing the primers ( 24 ) separate from each other. The magazine ( 28 ) further defines a plurality of curved guide slots ( 28.5 ), for engaging the advancement member ( 30 ) and to advance the magazine ( 28 ) step-wise along its longitudinal axis.

INTRODUCTION

This invention relates to a primer loader assembly, a gun provided witha primer loader assembly and a breech mechanism for use with such aprimer loader assembly. More particularly this invention relates to aprimer loader assembly for loading primers into a primer chamber in aspindle of a gun such as a cannon. This invention further relates to amagazine for holding primers and for use with such a primer loaderassembly.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

CA 1056631 discloses a magazine loaded repeating gun. The magazine has aplurality of separately spaced and linearly arranged chambers toaccommodate relatively large calibre projectiles. The gun includesmagazine advancement means for advancing the magazine through a breechopening of the gun in such a manner that the chambers are successivelybrought into a firing position in register with the bore of the barrelof the gun. The projectiles are thus fired whilst they are located inthe magazine.

A disadvantage of this type of loading arrangement is that, owing to alack of sealing between the front periphery of the chambers and the rearend of the barrel, it is not suitable for use in the case of primers forigniting projectile charges, as the amount of pressure generated by suchcharges would escape from the rear of the barrel.

WO 02/029350 discloses an automatic primer feed mechanism for use with acarrier assembly of a relatively large calibre artillery piece. Themechanism includes a loading means for automatic primer loading. Themechanism also includes a primer cartridge magazine, which houses aplurality of primers for insertion into the artillery piece. Themagazine includes a build-up clip retaining structure with a loadinginlet at one end for receiving the primers individually and a dispensingoutlet at an opposite end through which the primers are dispensed.

A plate retaining a coiled flat constant tension spring is mounted inthe magazine. The plate biases and indexes the next available primer forfiring. The magazine is a detachable unit, so that once all the primersin the magazine have been dispensed, it can be replaced with a magazinecontaining fresh primers.

A first disadvantage of the above automatic primer feed mechanism isthat the spring which allows movement of the primers, is prone to wearand tear owing to the mechanical movement thereof.

A second disadvantage of this mechanism is that, since the primers areloaded into the magazine via the inlet, advanced through the magazine,and dispensed into the artillery piece via the outlet, they arescratched and damaged along the way, thus altering their configurationleading to an imperfect seal in the interface between the primer and thechamber.

A third disadvantage of the above mechanism is that once all the primershave been dispensed, a new magazine must be inserted to continue firingof the gun. This interrupts firing and is relatively time consuming.Alternatively, while the gun is being fired and primers are dispensedvia the outlet to the gun, an operator can insert primers at the inletinto the magazine, for continuous firing. This is also time consumingand requires manual labour equivalent to loading the primers manuallyinto the breech.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a primerloader assembly, a gun provided with a primer loader assembly, and abreech mechanism and a magazine for use with such a primer loaderassembly with which the aforesaid disadvantages can be overcome or atleast minimised.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a primerloader assembly for loading a primer into a primer chamber in a spindleof a gun, such as a cannon, the primer loader assembly comprising aloading and feeding assembly adapted to receive a magazine containingprimers; an advancement member; and a loading member, the inventionbeing characterised in that the advancement member is adapted to advancethe magazine along its longitudinal axis through the loading and feedingassembly, so that the primer is brought into register with the primerchamber and loaded into said primer chamber by being moved from themagazine into the chamber by the loading member.

The magazine may include separating formations, in the form of sidewalls of a plurality of individual separate tubular openings extendingthrough the magazine, for retaining the primers separate from eachother, the arrangement being such that the loading member moves throughthe tubular opening to load the primer into the primer chamber.

The magazine may be provided with a first connecting formation, in theform of a male T-formation, at one end thereof and a complementarysecond connecting formation, in the form of a female T-formation, at anopposite end thereof, the arrangement being such that opposite ends ofthe magazine may be adapted to connect to the complementary connectingformations of other identical magazines, in one way only, so that theprimers all face in the same direction, for loading into the primerchamber.

The magazine may further define an advancement formation for engagingthe advancement member.

The advancement member may include at least one follower pin and theadvancement formation may be in the form of a plurality of guide slotsdefined in two opposite side walls of the magazine, providing a camtrack along which the follower pin travels, which may be arranged suchthat the magazine is adapted to be advanced step-wise, in a singledirection, along its longitudinal axis.

The advancement member may further include a guide assembly, in whichthe follower pin and a first biasing means are located, the arrangementbeing such that the first biasing means biases the follower pin towardsand in a direction transverse the longitudinal axis of the magazine sothat the follower pin engages the guide slots.

The guide assembly may be movable between an engaged position whereinthe follower pin engages the guide slots; and a disengaged positionwherein the follower pin is disengaged from the guide slots, thearrangement being such that the magazine is removable from the loadingand feeding assembly when the guide assembly is in the disengagedposition.

The follower pin may be a first follower pin and the advancement membermay include a second opposing follower pin, each pin being locatedwithin a guide assembly.

The primer loader assembly may further include a bracket assemblydefining an adjustment cradle in the bottom of the bracket assembly, andwhich includes two parallel support bars extending from the bottom ofthe bracket assembly on opposing sides of the adjustment cradle, eachsupport bar defining an opening for supporting one of the guideassemblies.

The loading and feeding assembly may include a loader cylinder assemblyand a chamber block assembly arranged relative to each other so thattheir longitudinal axes are aligned.

The chamber block assembly may define a magazine guide slot forreceiving the magazine and guiding movement of the magazine whenprogressing along its longitudinal axis through the chamber blockassembly.

The magazine guide slot may be adapted to receive the magazine fromeither side thereof, the arrangement being such that the magazine isadvanced in a single direction from any one side of the chamber blockassembly to the other side thereof.

The primer loader assembly may include a support member, attached to thechamber block assembly, for supporting the magazine as it progressesthrough the chamber block assembly.

The chamber block assembly may further define two pin guide slotsextending transverse the magazine guide slot with each guide assemblyextending through the opening in each support bar, the arrangement beingsuch that when the magazine is located in the magazine guide slot of thechamber block assembly, the follower pins engage the guide slots of themagazine via the pin guide slots.

The loader cylinder assembly may include a first outer cylinder; asecond inner cylinder in the form of an inner rod, being containedwithin the first outer cylinder and being telescopically movablerelative to the first outer cylinder; and the loading member, in theform of a push rod, which is contained within the second inner cylinderand which is telescopically movable relative to the second innercylinder for pushing the primer through the magazine and loading theprimer into the primer chamber.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided amagazine for containing primers to be loaded into a primer chamber in aspindle of a gun, such as a cannon, by means of the primer loaderassembly according to the first aspect of the invention.

The magazine may include a body with separating formations for retainingthe primers separate from each other.

The magazine may define a plurality of individual separate tubularopenings extending through the body of the magazine from one side to theother side thereof, and with the side walls of the openings providingthe said separating formations.

The magazine may further be provided with a first connecting formationat one end thereof and a complementary second connecting formation at anopposite end thereof, the arrangement being such that opposite ends ofthe magazine are respectively connectable to the connecting formationsof other identical magazines.

The first connecting formation may be in the form of a male T-formationand the second connecting formation may be in the form of a femaleT-formation for mating with the male T-formation of another identicalmagazine.

The male T-formation of the magazine and the female T-formation ofanother identical magazine may be adapted to mate with each other in oneway only, the arrangement being such that the magazines are connectableso that the primers all face in the same direction.

The magazine may further define an advancement formation.

The advancement formation may be in the form of a plurality of guideslots defined in at least one side wall of the magazine, and providing acam track.

The guide slots may be arranged such that the magazine is adapted to beadvanced in a single direction through the primer loader assembly, alongits longitudinal axis.

The plurality of guide slots may be defined in two opposite side wallsof the magazine.

The magazine may include a retaining formation for releasably retainingthe primers in the tubular openings.

The retaining formation may be in the form of two deformable O-rings,between which an end of the primer may be releasably retained.

The two opposite sides of the magazine may be sealed, such that thetubular openings containing the primers are closed at both ends thereof.

The magazine may be sealed by means of a film of material selected fromthe group consisting of foil; thermoplastic polymer; paper and laminatedcombinations thereof.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a gunincluding a primer loader assembly for loading primers into a primerchamber in a spindle of a gun.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a breechmechanism for use with a primer loader assembly for loading primers intoa primer chamber of a gun.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described further by way of a non-limitingexample with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a primer loader assembly according to apreferred embodiment of the invention arranged at the breech of a gun;

FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of the primer loader assembly ofFIG. 1, in a ram position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of the primer loader assembly,provided with a magazine for containing primers;

FIG. 4 is a perspective assembled view of FIG. 3 from the top end of theprimer loader assembly;

FIG. 5 is a perspective assembled view from the bottom end of the primerloader assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the primer loader assembly with the magazinepartially in register;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal-sectional side view of the primer loaderassembly in a store position;

FIG. 8 is the same as FIG. 7, but with the primer loader assembly in alocate position;

FIG. 9 is the same as FIG. 7, but with the primer loader assembly in aram position;

FIG. 10 a is a perspective view of the primer loader assembly, in use,while in a store position;

FIG. 10 b is a detailed view of the primer loader assembly of FIG. 10 a;

FIG. 11 a is a perspective view of the primer loader assembly, in use,while in a locate position;

FIG. 11 b is a detailed view of the primer loader assembly of FIG. 11 a;

FIG. 12 a is a perspective view of the primer loader assembly, in use,while in a ram position;

FIG. 12 b is a detailed view of the primer loader assembly of FIG. 12 a;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side view of a guide assembly with afollower pin in a disengaged position; and

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional top view of FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 9, a primer loader assembly according to apreferred embodiment of the invention is generally designated byreference numeral 10.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 10, 11 and 12, a conventional gun (not shown)includes a breech assembly 8 having a sliding breechblock 9 and aswinging block assembly 12 hinged on a breech ring 14. The swingingblock assembly 12 includes an obturation assembly having a spindle 16.The spindle 16 defines a flash channel 20 that terminates at one end ina primer chamber 22 for receiving a primer 24 (shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and12).

The primer loader assembly 10 loads one primer 24 at a time into theprimer chamber 22 in the spindle 16 of the breech assembly 8 of the gun.

Referring in addition to FIGS. 3 to 6, the primer loader assembly 10includes a loading and feeding assembly 26 for receiving an elongatemagazine 28 containing primers 24; an advancement member 30 foradvancing the magazine 28 along its longitudinal axis, in a first x-axisdirection, through the loading and feeding assembly 26 to bring a primer24 in register with the said primer chamber 22; and a loading member inthe form of a push rod 32 (shown in FIGS. 7 to 9) for loading the primer24 into the primer chamber 22 by moving the primer 24 from the magazine28 into the chamber 22.

The magazine 28 defines a plurality of individual separate tubularopenings 28.1 with the side walls 28.2 of the openings 28.1 providingseparating formations for containing the primers 24 separate from eachother. The magazine 28 further includes a retaining formation toreleasably retain the primers 24 in the tubular openings 28.1. Theretaining formation is in the form of two deformable O-rings, locatedadjacent one another inside each tubular opening 28.1. The arrangementis such that an end of the primer 24 is releasably retained between thetwo O-rings.

The magazine 28 is further provided with a first connecting formation atone end thereof and a complementary second connecting formation at anopposite end thereof. The first connecting formation is in the form of amale T-formation 28.3 and the second connecting formation is in the formof a female T-formation 28.4. The arrangement is such that opposite endsof the magazine 28 are each connectable to the complementors ends ofother identical magazines respectively, so as to facilitate thecontinuous feeding of loaded magazines 28 into the primer loaderassembly 10. Primers 24 are thus continuously available for loading intothe primer chamber 22 as and when required. The male T-formation 28.3 ofthe magazine 28 and the female T-formation 28.4 of another identicalmagazine are adapted to mate with each other in one way only, thearrangement being such that the magazines are connected to each otherwith the primers 24 all facing in one direction.

The magazine 28 further defines an advancement formation in two oppositewalls of the magazine 28, in the form of a plurality of curved guideslots 28.5, for engaging the advancement member 30. The guide slots 28.5are arranged so that the magazine is adapted to be advanced in onedirection along its longitudinal axis.

The advancement member 30 includes a guide assembly 30.2 which houses afollower pin 30.1 and a biasing means in the form of a first compressionspring 30.3. Each follower pin 30.1 engages the guide slots 28.5 of themagazine 28. The guide slots 28.5 provide curved cam tracks for thefollower pins 30.1, the pins 30.1 thus follow along the cam tracks toadvance the magazine 28 step-wise along its longitudinal axis, in thefirst x-axis direction. The arrangement is such that the firstcompression spring 30.3 biases the follower pin 30.1 in a directiontowards and transverse the longitudinal axis of the magazine 28, i.e. ina second y-axis direction.

The guide assembly 30.2 is movable between an engaged and a disengagedposition, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. The guide assembly 30.2 iscircumferentially surrounded by a first abutment member 31.1, a biasingmeans in the form of a second compression spring 31.2, and a secondabutment member 31.3. The second abutment member 31.3 includes a firstreceiving means 33.1 and a second receiving means 33.2. The first andthe second receiving means 33.1 and 33.2 are each in the form of arecess defined by the second abutment member 31.3. The first receivingmeans 33.1 has a predetermined depth and the second receiving means 33.2has a predetermined depth being more than that of the first receivingmeans 33.1.

The guide assembly 30.2 includes a lug 30.4 towards one end thereof,opposite to the follower pin 30.1. The lug 30.4 is receivable by thefirst and the second receiving means 33.1 and 33.2. When the guideassembly 30.2 is in the engaged position, the lug 30.4 is received bythe second receiving means 33.2 and engages the guide slots. In thedisengaged position, the lug 30.4 is received by the first receivingmeans 33.1 and the guide assembly 30.2 disengages the guide slots, sothat the magazine 28 could be freely removed from the loading andfeeding assembly.

The primer loader assembly 10 further includes a bracket assembly 34defining an adjustment cradle 36 in the bottom of the bracket assembly34. Two parallel support bars 38 extend from the bottom of the bracketassembly 34 on opposing sides of the adjustment cradle 36. Each supportbar 38 defines an opening 40 for supporting one of the guide assemblies30.2.

Referring in particular to FIGS. 7 to 9, the loading and feedingassembly 26 includes a loader cylinder assembly 42 and a chamber blockassembly 44 arranged relative to each other so that their longitudinalaxes are aligned. The loader cylinder assembly 42 includes a first outercylinder 46 wherein an inner rod is contained, which is telescopicallymovable within the first outer cylinder 46. The inner rod is in the forma second Inner cylinder 48, wherein the push rod 32 is contained, thepush rod 32 being telescopically movable within the second innercylinder 48. The first outer cylinder 46 and the second inner cylinder48 are movable in a third z-axis direction, being the primer loaderoperational centreline.

The chamber block assembly 44 includes a cylinder interface 50 at oneend thereof. The cylinder interface 50 includes a cylinder end cap 52,which is adapted to receive the second inner cylinder 48 and the pushrod 32 of the loader cylinder assembly 42. The chamber block assembly 44defines a magazine guide slot 54 for receiving the magazine 28 andguiding movement of the magazine 28 when progressing it along itslongitudinal axis in the x-axis direction through the chamber blockassembly 44. The chamber block assembly 44 further defines two pin guideslots 56 extending transverse the magazine guide slot 54.

Each guide assembly 30.2 extends through the opening 40 in each supportbar 38, the arrangement being such that when the magazine 28 is locatedin the magazine guide slot 54 of the chamber block assembly 44, thefollower pins 30.1 engage the guide slots 28.5 of the magazine 28, viathe pin guide slots 56.

The chamber block assembly 44 further includes two alignment fingers 58,which are receivable by the rear end of the spindle 16.

The loader cylinder assembly 42 is connected to upper ends of thesupport bars 38 via an adjustment nut 60. The chamber block assembly 44is located between the two opposing support bars 38 and is connected tothe loader cylinder assembly 42 at the cylinder end cap 52.

In use, the breech assembly 8 of the gun is opened and ammunition (notshown) is loaded into the barrel chamber of the gun. Thereafter, aprimer 24 is loaded, by means of the primer loader assembly 10, into theprimer chamber 22 defined in the said spindle 16, whereafter the breechassembly 8 is closed. Activation of the primer 24 ignites theammunition.

In loading the primer 24 into the primer chamber 22, the primer loaderassembly 10 moves from a store position (shown in FIGS. 7, 10 a, and 10b), to a located position (shown in FIGS. 8, 11 a, and 11 b), andfinally to a ram position (shown in FIGS. 9, 12 a, and 12 b), where theprimer 24 is loaded into the primer chamber 22. Thereafter, the primerloader assembly 10 moves back to the store position.

When the primer loader assembly 10 is in the store position, the secondinner cylinder 48 and the push rod 32 are both contained within thefirst outer cylinder 46, and the magazine 28 is in an intermediatesemi-aligned position, wherein there are no tubular openings 28.1 of themagazine 28, and hence no primer 24, aligned with the primer chamber 22(as shown in FIG. 6).

As the primer loader assembly 10 moves to the locate position, thesecond inner cylinder 48 and the push rod 32 simultaneously move out ofthe first outer cylinder 46, towards the chamber block assembly 44. Thechamber block assembly 44, and hence the magazine 28 located in themagazine guide slot 54, are pushed by the second inner cylinder 48towards the bottom of the bracket assembly 34, in the z-axis direction.Since the follower pins 30.1 are not movable in the x-axis direction orin the y-axis direction, as the magazine 28 is advanced, the followerpins 30.1 travel along the cam track, thereby advancing the magazine 28stepwise in the x-axis direction and thus bringing a primer 24 inregister with the primer chamber 22. The magazine 28 is therefore in analigned position. The alignment fingers 58 are located on the rear endof the spindle 16 to ensure proper alignment of the primer chamber 22with the primer 24.

The chamber block assembly 44 then moves from the locate position, tothe ram position. The push rod 32 commences its downward movement out ofthe second inner cylinder 48, which remains stationary, through themagazine 28 and through the alignment fingers 58. When the push rod 32moves into the magazine 28, it abuts the primer 24 and thereby pushes itfrom the magazine 28, through the chamber block assembly 44 and thealignment fingers 58 into the primer chamber 22.

Once the primer 24 is loaded in the primer chamber 22, the primer loaderassembly 10 returns to the store position. The push rod 32 moves backinto the second inner cylinder 48, and both are simultaneously movedback into the first outer cylinder 46. The chamber block assembly 44also moves away from the bottom of the bracket assembly 34. The followerpins 30.1 again travel along the cam track to advance the magazine 28stepwise to the intermediate semi-aligned position, where there are noprimers 24 in register with the primer chamber 22.

After the gun has been fired, the breech of the gun is opened and thespent primer cartridge 24 is automatically extracted and removed and thenext primer 24 loaded into the chamber, repeating the above procedure.

Should the magazine 28 need to be removed from the chamber blockassembly 44, the guide assembly 30.2 is moved from the engaged positionto the disengaged position. The guide assembly 30.2 is pulled away fromthe magazine 28 while the second compression spring 31.2 is compresseduntil the first abutment member 31.1 abuts the support bar 38. The guideassembly 30.2 is then rotated so that the lug 30.4 is moved from thesecond receiving means 33.2 to the first receiving means 33.1, which hasa predetermined depth being less than that of the second receiving means33.2. The follower pins 30.2 are thus disengaged from the guide slots28.5 of the magazine 28 and the magazine 28 could be freely removed fromthe chamber block assembly 44.

Since the magazine 28 is connected to another identical magazine at eachend thereof, such that a chain of magazines is formed, a first advantageof the primer loader assembly 10 is that rapid fire of the gun ispossible. The magazine 28 therefore does not need to be manually removedfrom the primer loader assembly after all the primers in said magazinehas been fired and replaced by a magazine containing fresh primers. Asecond advantage of the primer loader assembly is that the magazines 28are disposable, once all the primers 24 in the magazine 28 have beenremoved. A further advantage of the primer loader assembly 10 is thatsince the primers 24 are activated in the primer chamber, it is foreseenthat a superior seal is created between the front periphery of theprimer body and the primer chamber.

It will be appreciated that variations in detail are possible with aprimer loader assembly, a gun provided with a primer loader assembly anda breech mechanism and a magazine for use with such a primer loaderassembly according to the invention without departing from the scope ofthe appended claims.

For example, the primer loader assembly could include a support memberin the form of two support trays (not shown) attached to either side ofthe chamber block assembly, adjacent to the magazine guide slot, forsupporting the magazine while it moves through the chamber blockassembly during loading of the primers into the primer chamber.

Furthermore, the two opposite sides of the magazine could be sealed witha protective film or layer (not shown) of a material selected from thegroup consisting of thermoplastic polymer; paper; foil; and laminatedcombinations thereof such that the tubular openings containing theprimers are closed at both ends thereof. The arrangement is such thatthe primers could be loaded from the magazine into the primer chamberwithout first removing the film, since the loading member would movethrough the film and the tubular openings. It is foreseen thatdisposable magazines could be supplied and stored while sealed andsubsequently used while sealed. This would protect the primers from dirtand damage.

1. A primer loader assembly for loading a primer into a primer chamberin a spindle of a gun, such as a cannon, the primer loader assemblycomprising a loading and feeding assembly adapted to receive a magazinecontaining primers; an advancement member; and a loading member, theinvention being characterised in that the advancement member is adaptedto advance the magazine along its longitudinal axis through the loadingand feeding assembly, so that the primer is brought into register withthe primer chamber and loaded into said primer chamber by being movedfrom the magazine into the chamber by the loading member.
 2. A primerloader assembly according to claim 1, wherein the magazine includesseparating formations, in the form of side walls of a plurality ofindividual separate tubular openings extending through the magazine, forretaining the primers separate from each other, the arrangement beingsuch that the loading member moves through the tubular opening to loadthe primer into the primer chamber.
 3. A primer loader assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein the magazine is provided with a firstconnecting formation, in the form of a male T-formation, at one endthereof and a complementary second connecting formation, in the form ofa female T-formation, at an opposite end thereof, the arrangement beingsuch that opposite ends of the magazine are adapted to connect to thecomplementary connecting formations of other identical magazines, in oneway only, so that the primers all face in the same direction, forloading into the primer chamber.
 4. A primer loader assembly accordingto claim 1, wherein the magazine further defines an advancementformation for engaging the advancement member.
 5. A primer loaderassembly according to claim 4, wherein the advancement member includesat least one follower pin and the advancement formation is in the formof a plurality of guide slots defined in two opposite side walls of themagazine, providing a cam track along which the follower pin travels,which are arranged such that the magazine is adapted to be advancedstep-wise, in a single direction, along its longitudinal axis.
 6. Aprimer loader assembly according to claim 5, wherein the advancementmember further includes a guide assembly, in which the follower pin anda first biasing means are located, the arrangement being such that thefirst biasing means biases the follower pin towards and in a directiontransverse the longitudinal axis of the magazine so that the followerpin engages the guide slots.
 7. A primer loader assembly according toclaim 6, wherein the guide assembly is movable between an engagedposition wherein the follower pin engages the guide slots; and adisengaged position wherein the follower pin is disengaged from theguide slots, the arrangement being such that the magazine is removablefrom the loading and feeding assembly when the guide assembly is in thedisengaged position.
 8. A primer loader assembly according to claim 7,wherein the follower pin is a first follower pin and the advancementmember includes a second opposing follower pin, each pin being locatedwithin a guide assembly.
 9. A primer loader assembly according to claim1, which further includes a bracket assembly defining an adjustmentcradle in the bottom of the bracket assembly, and which includes twoparallel support bars extending from the bottom of the bracket assemblyon opposing sides of the adjustment cradle, each support bar defining anopening for supporting one of the guide assemblies.
 10. A primer loaderassembly according to claim 1, wherein the loading and feeding assemblyincludes a loader cylinder assembly and a chamber block assemblyarranged relative to each other so that their longitudinal axes arealigned.
 11. A primer loader assembly according to claim 10, wherein thechamber block assembly defines a magazine guide slot for receiving themagazine and guiding movement of the magazine when progressing along itslongitudinal axis through the chamber block assembly.
 12. A primerloader assembly according to claim 11, wherein the magazine guide slotis adapted to receive the magazine from either side thereof, thearrangement being such that the magazine is advanced in a singledirection from any one side of the chamber block assembly to the otherside thereof.
 13. A primer loader assembly according to claim 10, whichincludes a support member, attached to the chamber block assembly, forsupporting the magazine as it progresses through the chamber blockassembly.
 14. A primer loader assembly according to claim 10, whereinthe chamber block assembly further defines two pin guide slots extendingtransverse the magazine guide slot with each guide assembly extendingthrough the opening in each support bar, the arrangement being such thatwhen the magazine is located in the magazine guide slot of the chamberblock assembly, the follower pins engage the guide slots of the magazinevia the pin guide slots.
 15. A primer loader assembly according to claim10, wherein the loader cylinder assembly includes a first outercylinder; a second inner cylinder in the form of an inner rod, beingcontained within the first outer cylinder and being telescopicallymovable relative to the first outer cylinder; and the loading member, inthe form of a push rod, which is contained within the second innercylinder and which is telescopically movable relative to the secondinner cylinder for pushing the primer through the magazine and loadingthe primer into the primer chamber.
 16. A magazine for containingprimers to be loaded into a primer chamber in a spindle of a gun, suchas a cannon, by means of the primer loader assembly according toclaim
 1. 17. A magazine according to claim 16, which includes a bodywith separating formations for retaining the primers separate from eachother.
 18. A magazine according to claim 17, which defines a pluralityof individual separate tubular openings extending through the body ofthe magazine from one side to the other side thereof, and with the sidewalls of the openings providing the said separating formations.
 19. Amagazine according to claim 16, which is provided with a firstconnecting formation at one end thereof and a complementary secondconnecting formation at an opposite end thereof, the arrangement beingsuch that opposite ends of the magazine are respectively connectable tothe connecting formations of other identical magazines.
 20. A magazineaccording to claim 19, wherein the first connecting formation is in theform of a male T-formation and the second connecting formation is in theform of a female T-formation for mating with the male T-formation ofanother identical magazine.
 21. A magazine according to claim 20 whereinthe male T-formation of the magazine and the female T-formation ofanother identical magazine are adapted to mate with each other in oneway only, the arrangement being such that the magazines are connectableso that the primers all face the same direction.
 22. A magazineaccording to claim 16, which further defines an advancement formation.23. A magazine according to claim 22, wherein the advancement formationis in the form of a plurality of guide slots defined in at least oneside wall of the magazine, and providing a cam track.
 24. A magazineaccording to claim 23, wherein the guide slots are arranged such thatthe magazine is adapted to be advanced in a single direction through theprimer loader assembly, along its longitudinal axis.
 25. A magazineaccording to claim 23, wherein the plurality of guide slots are definedin two opposite side walls of the magazine.
 26. A magazine according toclaim 16, which includes a retaining formation for releasably retainingthe primers in the tubular openings.
 27. A magazine according to claim26, wherein the retaining formation is in the form of two deformableO-rings, between which an end of the primer is releasably retained. 28.A magazine according to claim 16, wherein the two opposite sides of themagazine are sealed, such that the tubular openings containing theprimers are closed at both ends thereof.
 29. A magazine according toclaim 28, wherein the magazine is sealed by means of a film of amaterial selected from the group consisting of foil; thermoplasticpolymer; paper; and laminated combinations thereof.
 30. A gun includinga primer loader assembly according to claim 1, for loading primers intoa primer chamber in a spindle of a gun.
 31. A gun including a primerloader assembly according to claim 1, for loading primers into a primerchamber of a gun.
 32. (canceled)
 33. (canceled)
 34. (canceled) 35.(canceled)